Monday, April 30, 2007

 

The Tale of One Bad Rat - Bryan Talbot

Another graphic novel. The Tale of One Bad Rat is a graphic novel featuring a heroine who is almost overcome by her father's abuse. How she finds the good people and builds strength for herself is well portrayed. I like the way that this graphic novel can powerful ideas in a few panels without having to explain every detail.

 

Flight - Volumes 1 and 3 edited by Kazu Kibuishi

I've been reading more and more graphic novels. I admit that I sometimes choose randomly based on the cover and a quick flip through the book while I crouch by the low graphic novel shelves at the library. I borrowed Flight 3from the library and bought Flight 1. Flight 3 was my favorite and I would like to own it. The short stories are intriguing and beautiful and none was too scary or gory. One of my favorites was the Coffee Critic which had a lovely Ali Baba detail that made us all laugh.I don't know how based in reality this feeling is but the stories in Volume 1 seemed longer and more developed while the stories in Volume 3 seemed shorter and sometimes like scenes from longer pieces. In Volume 1 I enjoyed many of the stories but especially remember Paper & String and Outside my Window.

 

My Pet Virus - Shawn Decker

My pet virus - Shawn Decker - autobiography. Shawn Decker has hemophilia and while being treated for various bleeds with blood products he was infected with two hepatitus viruses and HIV. Yes, it sucks and is unfair. Yes, there was school district discrimination and lots of community muttering. Shawn Decker shows us his own personal totally human way through the years. It is easy for disconnected adults to say that an HIV+ person (positoid!) should inform all partners about the HIV status and it another for a teenager to determind the point where a potential or active girlfriend needs to know.

It's a sad and amusing tale and I laughed very hard at the pictures...mostly because the clothing and hairstyles reminded me strongly of my youth. This is no preachy or maudlin tale. It is a book of regular life with a positoid view.

 

River Secrets - Shannon Hale

River Secrets is part a series of linked books by Sharon Hale. You can read each book separately but if you want to read all three read them in order or else many plot twists are revealed. The Goose Girl is a retelling of the well known folk tale; it has a strong female lead (really two) and other good diversity messages. Next comes Enna Burning which is a much darker story with elements of mind control linked with sexuality and planned and unplanned deaths by burning. My 11 year old was horrified and she and her older sister both declined to finish the book. River Secrets has some deaths but they are neither as horrific or detailed as in Enna Burning. The main character is unsure of himself and yet maintains his integrity while reaching out to other people. His friendships are solid and well-built. River Secrets is a little predictable but not in a way that makes me sigh and put the book aside in the second chapter.

Around christmas I also read Shannon Hale's Princess Academy which was a fun fast read with a strong female lead. This book was longed after by the 11 year old and she has read it several times.

 

And we're back!

Sorry for all that empty webspace. It was a tough year! During the tough times I kept reading because, well because reading is what I do when things are tough and when things are good. Reading buffers me from sadness and gives me hope and opens up dreams. The good news is that I'm reading a lot and enjoying it as much as ever. I've been working as a substitute teacher at the local high school and some days I get reading done while the students buckle down to their work...other days I only get reading in during my lunch break.

As you might imagine substitutes don't get paid much but luckily I have re-discovered the joys of the public library AND since the library is just a parking lot away from the high school I am much much better at returning the books on time.

On to lists and reviews!

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